Green councillors were to meet fellow party members last night to discuss which side to support in the bid to take control of the council in Reading.

Cllr Rob White said yesterday he could not discuss the matter before the meeting.

When asked if he had been put under pressure by the opposing sides he said: “No, no too much pressure.”

Cllr White and his colleague, new councillor Melanie Eastwood, hold the balance of power on the council. There are 22 Labour councillors, 16 Conservatives, five Liberal Democrats, one independent – who is a suspended Lib Dem – and two Greens.

At the mayor-making next Wednesday, votes for the mayor and the leader of the council will establish which side – Labour or a coalition of Conservatives and Lib Dems – will run the council.

The coalition has been running the council for the last year but both Tories and Lib Dems lost seats in the election on May 5, while Labour gained.

Still no party holds an overall majority and the two Greens will be able to call the shots depending where they choose to give their votes.

Deputy Mayor Jenny Rynn would normally rise to mayor automatically but as the mayor holds a crucial casting vote the post becomes key to the political tug-o-war.

Labour is expected to announce an alternative candidate before long and that name is likely to be part of its negotiations and offers of green initiatives are likely to be part of the delicate negotiations with the Green Party in a bid to gain their support.